The recently bulldozed Granite Bowl building, 1740 St. Germain St., is a case in point. The structure's horizontal lines, rounded edges, glass brick, and smooth-surfaced walls made it a beautiful example of streamline moderne style.

Erected in 1940, the building was sheathed with 4-inch-thick, rose-colored granite panels. Although the granite came from Ortonville, the stone was polished locally at the North Star granite sheds under the guidance of Anton Kalusche. The St. Cloud Times at that time said, "the sheer beauty of entire walls of polished granite must 'be seen to be appreciated.' " Built for $50,000, construction today would cost $840,000.

Paul J. Pappenfus was the general contractor. Pappenfus designed clusters of Craftsman-styled bungalows at West Germain and McKinley Place, across the street from the Granite Bowl. The talented contractor, who died at age 90 in 1985, also built bungalows above the Mississippi on Sixth Avenue North between Sixth and Eighth streets.

Built during the Great Depression, the Granite Bowl's exterior displayed the severity of design of many buildings from that era. The 1938 Federal Building at 720 St. Germain St. (now Netgain Technology Inc.) is a fine example of a building whose style reflected the economic austerity of that time. The architectural features of the smaller-scaled Granite Bowl echo the style of the monumental Federal Building.

The Granite Bowl's interior revealed a warmer interpretation of the streamline moderne style: an inviting leather-paneled lounge, a horseshoe-shaped bar, and an array of spongy seats created a cozy atmosphere where bowlers could order sandwiches and drinks. In 1953, eight lanes, a party room and a dining room were added.

The Granite Bowl's grand opening was in December 1940. The advertisement for the opening boasted eight "streamlined" lanes, fluorescent lighting and air-conditioning throughout the building. Later renovations took place in 1953 and 2001.

The Granite Bowl operated until 2010. The business merged with and moved to Southway Bowl, 1222-33rd St. S, in 2011, which is still in operation. The lanes at 1740 St. Germain St. closed after 70 years in business.

The Granite Bowl’s interior had a cozy atmosphere where bowlers could order sandwiches and drinks.
(Photo:
Photo courtesy of Stearns History Museum
)

Woven into culture

Bowling alleys, and other sporting venues, have always been about much more than just the sport that is played inside them. In "Sport and American Mentality," historian Donald Mrozek writes, "Sport was not a mirror of society but a part of it."

What is it about bowling that tugs at our heartstrings? Why are we saddened when another bowling alley gets razed? Perhaps it is because modern America grew up with bowling. It is a part of the fabric of our society and culture. Jackie Gleason, Fred Flintstone, and Laverne and Shirley all bowled. More recently, the Coen brothers solemnized bowling in the movie "The Big Lebowski."

Rolling a ball into pins as a game has a long history, dating back to the ancient Egyptians. A variation of bowling was so popular in 14th century England that King Edward III banned it because the game distracted his soldiers from their archery practice. The game as we know it today did not exist until the late 19th century. In 1895, the American Bowling Congress was established and the rules and regulations of the game became standardized.

The life of the Granite Bowl building reflected the social history of America, from the end of the Great Depression and the emerging period of World War II. According to social critic Robert Putnam in "Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community," bowling enjoyed a popularity resurgence in the 1930s. Bowling alleys became places for families to socialize, and when Prohibition ended in 1933, have a beer and put the deprivations of the Depression behind them. That trend continued through the war years.

Bowling enjoyed a golden age beginning in the early 1950s when modern technology came to the game in the form of an automatic pinsetter. The broadcasting of bowling on television helped popularize the game, which was buoyed by a post-war growing middle class with disposable income and leisure time. Bowling became the sport of choice for millions in the middle of the 20th century.

Declining interest

People still go bowling today, but not as much in leagues. In 1979, there were more than 9 million registered bowlers nationwide. In 2014, the number was less than 2 million. In Central Minnesota, bowling remains popular. At the game's height, there were no fewer than four bowling alleys operating simultaneously in St. Cloud. Small towns surrounding the city all had their own individual bowling alleys as well. Though there are fewer lanes in operation, the St. Cloud Times still publishes a regular bowling column.

Our society has become a throwaway culture. It is cheaper to dispose of things rather than have them fixed. The same holds true for the Granite Bowl building. It was apparently cheaper to destroy the building and erect a new one than it was to save the structure and reuse it. On the other hand, sometimes progress creates a modern structure, like the new Quinlivan & Hughes building, which might someday become a historical building itself.

When the Granite Bowl closed, more than just a building closed. If sport is not just a mirror of society but a part of it, then a part of our local culture also died and became history with the demolition of the Granite Bowl building. Once unique buildings like the Granite Bowl are destroyed, they are gone forever. Sometimes a building's beauty — and its social significance — are not appreciated until they are gone.

This column is the opinion of Tim Hoheisel, a historian and executive director of Stearns History Museum, and Bill Morgan, retired St. Cloud State University professor. Hoheisel can be reached at Stearns History Museum at 253-8424 or by email at thoheisel@stearns-museum.org.